Military ReunionsWhen your Military Group chooses Lodge of the Ozarks we are HONORED. We thank you for your service to our country and considering the Lodge for your reunion destination.
Our hospitality suites, meeting rooms, banquet facilities and halls echo with sounds of laughter and shared memories. Our experienced staff will make customizing your next event convenient and efficient.
Within walking distance to numerous shows, restaurants and attractions, it’s no wonder the Lodge of the Ozarks does over 50 military reunions per year. The Lodge will be happy to “hang” your group’s banner and place your reunions name on the hotels marquee that sits on the “76 Strip.” Our reunions are allowed to bring whatever snacks and drinks into their hospitality room and we provide the ice at no charge. The hospitality room can be locked to protect your memorabilia. Our military veterans are so special to the Lodge and we will do all we can to create a great reunion.
Please call or email any questions about how we can make your next reunion event a special memory with great food, friends and hospitality at the Lodge of the Ozarks.
TO THE TERRIFIC STAFF AT THE LODGE OF THE OZARKS
FROM: JOHN FULTON USMC RET
SUBJ: HMM 165 REUNION JULY 2007
The pre-planning stages went excellent. Any questions were quickly answered and always favorable. Our contacts with the group sales department during the reunion were strictly to be friendly (or cordial) since NO problem occurred during the reunion---------
Mary and Yvonne were great during the pre-planning. Nicki’s info for group sales was very helpful. Elizabeth and Josie were always available and responsive to our questions.
The front desk people were always eager to answer my questions.
It was by far the best hospitality room we have ever had. Danny and Veda Howard were excellent. We had very few requests of them since they would already have it done.
The bar/club made us feel at home.
Chef Addison fulfilled any request we had on a daily basis. The wives dealt mainly with the Chef since they have more request than men. The dinner & breakfast were excellent. One “lifer” (who had been to many dinners during his career and retirement) said it was the “best” he had ever had.
Not being a good judge of food I asked for opinions from as many as I could after the dinner; not one negative response, all very positive.
The banquet room was set up perfectly, microphones worked and the dinner was served promptly.
Thanks for the Good Time
John Fulton
HMM 165, 133 Foley, Holister MO 65672
From: Arla & Don Deycous
Sent: Saturday, September 01, 2007 12:20 PM
Subject: Lodge of the Ozarks
Hi Paul,
I received the latest issue of TRNews just a few days before the USS Bon
Homme Richard 22nd annual reunion being headquartered at the Lodge of the
Ozarks in
Branson. I was somewhat surprised and really concerned about the editorial.
We had contracted with the hotel for our reunion 2 years ago. During a
Feb. 2007
reunion pre-con, Ron Edlund & I were shown a hotel closed for renovation
and were assured by Director of Sales Yvonne Costales that all would be ready
for our reunion in August. Upon arrival we found the hotel open and looking very
nice as compared to 6 months earlier. We were greeted by Yvonne and her sales
manager Mary Slivka. These two ladies worked very hard to provide to our every
need. We have had reunions where the hotel staff was not nearly as pleasant or
helpful as all the staff at Lodge of the Ozarks. They could not do anything about
the 100 + temp., but they did everything possible to make our stay at the “Lodge” comfortable
and pleasant. I would recommend this facility to any military group that would
like to go to Branson. I hope you will confirm my evaluation and put the Lodge
of the Ozarks back on the list of hotels to go to for reunions in Branson.
USS Bon Homme Richard Shipmates Assoc. secretary; Don Deycous
Honorable Mrs Raeanne Presley, Mayor
Branson, MO 65616
Mayor Presley,
My wife and I had a very pleasant and uplifting experience last week, and I
want to share it. We sponsored the USS Damato DD/DDE-871, reunion at the Lodge
of
the Ozarks in Branson, MO. I served aboard the Damato in the early 50’s.
We had a total of 81 attendees and 31 old sailors. Everyone had a great time.
The hotel was clean, comfortable and quiet, as you expect a good hotel to be,
but the employees made it exceptional. The hospitality room was always clean
and in good order. When we needed ice, signs or anything, we just asked and it
was done. Everything was on time as scheduled, which is rare at reunions. The
food was delicious and well presented. We did not have one complaint. We did,
however, have many compliments for choosing the Lodge for the reunion and how
smoothly things went, and how well we were treated.
One of our shipmates became very ill and was admitted to the hospital for several days. We did what we could for him and his wife, who does not drive, but most of us left Thur or Fri morning. The hotel does not presently have shuttle service, but the employees drove Mrs Mahnke to the hospital and back several times, in thier private vehicles. I even heard that the Dr. drove her back to the hotel late the night Wayne was admitted. The hotel and hospital saw that she had something to eat and took care of her as if she were family. That’s the way they treated all of us. I called the hospital Sat evening and found Wayne had been discharged late that afternoon, but was told not to drive until Tuesday, to be sure he was OK. I called thier room and left messages Sat evening and several times Sunday, but kept missing them. About 7:00PM, my phone rang. It was Jenna, at the registration desk. She was aware of the Mahnke’s problems and I had asked her about them earlier. She told me they had just gone to their room, and would I like her to connect me. I can’t describe what that meant to me. I was finally able to get an update. If that isn’t above and beyond the call of duty, I don’t know what is. The Mahnkes left Tue. He will have hernia repair surgery when they get home. I have never encountered a more compassionate and helpful group of people anywhere. Words can not describe our complete satisfaction and warm feelings we all took home with us. Mrs Mahnke told me, although she regretted missing so much of the reunion, she would not have wanted to miss meeting all those wonderful people.
Also, I went to the Chamber of Commerce office to buy some Branson pins for our group. When I got back to the hotel, I had a phone call from the Chamber office. They had found a $100 bill I had dropped and wanted to return it to me. Another day, we lost our camera at the Showboat Branson Belle. Sounds like we’re a little senile doesn’t it. I reported it to the attendant on the boat, thinking we would never see it again. She made a call, sent an employee up the hill about a hundred yards to the gift shop area, and told me they had found it. Five minutes later, we had our camera.
Wouldn’t it be great if the whole world was like that hotel and Branson in general. No more wars, crime, greed and distrust. What a wonderful world that would be. Where did we go so wrong? What happened to the old custom of neighbor helping neighbor? It’s alive and well in Branson. This entire experience was the most satisfying and memorable I have had in years.
Gene Tucker
Reunion Planner, USS Damato DD/DDE-871
315 Huber Rd, Perryville, MO 63775
3431 W. Hwy. 76 • Branson, MO 65616 • (877) 327-9894 • (417) 334-7535 • Fax (417) 334-0306
© 2007